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OIA asked to embrace cooperation, not antagonism
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Posted on Dec 07 1998
In an effort to help the current administration deal with growing pressure from U.S. officials, a local legislator has asked the federal government to play down its threat of takeover and instead assist CNMI address its labor and immigration problems.
But the request from Rep. Frank Cepeda met lukewarm response from Allen Stayman, director of the Office of Insular Affairs, who has tossed the issue back to the local legislature.
“I am not asking the federal government to back off, only change course slightly,” Cepeda said in a letter to Stayman. “Instead of… taking over where we have stumbled, why can’t we run on a parallel course in a mutual effort to rectify these problems?”
The representative maintained reforms are being undertaken by local leaders on CNMI labor and immigration standards — two issues which have strained bilateral relations in recent years.
Some Washington officials have criticized the commonwealth over its alleged failure to control the influx of thousands of poor Asian workers into the island and curb labor abuses here.
The Clinton administration has been pushing for takeover of labor and immigration authority in the CNMI, a move being opposed by local leaders.
In a letter to Cepeda, Stayman said local reforms will not solve the current problems because of the economic policy to rely on large number of foreign workers on the island.
“The situation does not appear to have improved. Past local reforms have proven to be fleeting,” the OIA official said.
Although they recognize CNMI efforts, Stayman put to task local lawmakers, saying that “a great burden lies in the commonwealth legislature to meet the challenge” and resolve the issues affecting bilateral relations.
